Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari said on Tuesday the world's superpowers will have to soon make "serious decisions" about the Kashmir problem, claiming that regional peace is closely linked to the resolution of the decades-old issue with India.

Linking the Kashmir problem with the Middle East conflict, President Asif Ali Zardari has asked the US to demonstrate "neutrality" and step up efforts to "mediate" on the issue between India and Pakistan.

Fifteen persons, including three policemen, were injured as violent protests against the killing of two women rocked Shopian town and other areas in the Kashmir valley for the third day today.

India today slammed the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) for commenting on Kashmir issue and dubbing the Mumbai terror attacks merely as an "incident".

At least eight persons, including two policemen, were injured today as groups of youth, shouting anti-election slogans, clashed with police and paramilitary forces at several places in Srinagar and Baramulla districts.

Four Army personnel including a Major and three Jawans have been killed in a gunbattle between militants and security forces in Hafrada area of Kupwara district. Six militants have also been killed in the ongoing encounter.

The Jammu and Kashmir Government is likely to issue a strong message to the army asking it to ensure presence of state police while carrying out search and cordon operations anywhere in the state.

Five candidates, including two former chief ministers and Union minister for water resources Saifuddin Soz, filed their nominations papers on Tuesday,for biennial polls to the four Jammu and Kashmir Rajya Sabha seats.

Army chief General Deepak Kapoor on Wednesday admitted that his troops had failed to capture or kill the militants against whom they carried out an operation in the Mendhar sector of Jammu and Kashmir last week.